Super Bowl XLVI Open Thread

I’m a Jets fan, but I can’t imagine not rooting for the Giants today. I guess it helps that I’m not the biggest football fan in the world — so my allegiance isn’t ironclad — but ultimately it comes down to the New York thing. I mean, if the Mets and Red Sox were in the World Series, would you not be rooting for those fellas from Flushing? This isn’t any different. New York vs. Boston, Eli vs. Brady … doesn’t take much to back the G-Men today. Lets go Gi-Ants.

Well, in 1986, my dad rooted for the Red Sox against the Mets. That was simply because that Mets team was so easy to hate, especially if you were a Yankees fan.

I am also fairly confident that’s the only time he’s ever favored the Red Sox in his life. Maybe 1967 when the played the Cardinals, since my dad is still bitter to this day about them beating the Yankees in 1964, but I’m not sure.

Rey22

Not a football fan at all, and I wont watch a second of the game, but on principle, I have to root against the Patriots cause that would make Red Sox fans miserable, which would make me happy.

Gonzo

Eli is the quarterback intern look.

Johnny

Am I a bad person for rooting for Boston every time I watch the ’86 World Series again? I still don’t quite understand how they lost. I still expect them to win every time. They were such a great team. Marty Barrett was awesome.

And I harbor intense dislike for those pests Dykstra and Backman.

I guess it was just that ’86 team, though. I would never root for the current Boston side under any circumstances. I know it’s a ways away, but for Halloween this year is it okay to go as Josh Beckett with a giant bucket of fried chicken, or is that a dickish move one year after the fact? I should have done it last year but I couldn’t stomach buying a Red Sox jersey.

http://www.bronxbombersreport.com Craig Maduro

Yes, you are a bad person for that.

Monterowasdinero

Are the Yanks/MLB going with a Designated Twitter this year?

The time has come.

http://drawingwalks.wordpress.com/ RC

The Giants play in New York?

http://abovetheyankeedugout.com/ Carl

Um… playing at the Polo Grounds and old Yankee Stadium in the pre-Super Bowl era ring a bell? They’re only stuck in New Jersey ’cause there’s no place for a stadium anywhere in NYC.

Brooklyn Ed

pst, fun fact: The Knicks were once a baseball once.

Evan3457

Really? Cushioned cork center, or rubber center?

http://drawingwalks.wordpress.com/ RC

The baseball Giants played in the Polo Grounds too. They had the decency to change their name when they moved out of state.

Maybe but for now, just enjoy the moment! Giants are the Super Bowl Champs! They definitely made this a tolerable offseasn.

Karl Krawfid

Of course. One more day for me. I have to hear Mike Francesa. I know he’s gonna clown the Jets.

Kevin Winters

One day for you but like a month for everyone else. They talked about Superbowl 42 for what 4-6 weeks. Mike and Chris spent like a month trying to come up with a name.

Karl Krawfid

Yeah, but that was different. They came in as a huge underdog and shocked the world.

Gaints were the better team this year and did what the better team is supposed to do. Win.

Kevin Winters

Hopefully that’s the case. I’m dying for some baseball talk.

Kevin Winters

You’re going to be waiting a while.

Brian S.

Hockey!

Evan3457

Yay, Hockey!!! Go Rangers!!

Wait; what?

WhizzoTheWize

Whizzo hails the G-Men’s victory over the dastardly New Englanders. Surely this must portent an auspicious season for Whizzo’s beloved Pinstripers.

Or, at the very least, Whizzo can soon look forward to a real sport being played in a fort night.

Leo

Maybe but for now, just enjoy the moment! Giants are the Super Bowl Champs! They definitely made this a tolerable offseason.

Leo

Sorry reply fail

http://www.twitter.com/twilkinsonmedia T-Dubs

Dear Bob Kraft,

Fuck you!!

Love,
The State of Connecticut

Kevin Winters

What?

http://riveraveblues.com Matt Warden

Haha! +1, T-Dubs.

Kevin, several years back there was a lot of discussion about the Patriots moving to a new location (I believe so they could get a bigger/better stadium) — that location wound up being Hartford, CT.

CT (perhaps foolishly, or at the very least prematurely)invested quite a bit of money into preparations for the team, and began selling season tickets to people who lived in the area.

Ultimately, the Pats were not interested in moving at all though, and were simply using CT as a means of increasing their bargaining leverage for where they currently were. So CT was left with a lot of wasted time/energy. Long story short, a lot of CT folk are still agitated by that.

Kevin Winters

Thanks for clearing that up.

Eirias

I’m a pretty avid football fan, but I’ve no clear answer to this question, so I’ll posit it to the crowd:

Too many men on the field earns a five yard penalty added to the end of a play, but as was just fairly important in the SB, you also lose time off the clock. I’d think the advantage of having an extra defender would be more important than 5 yards in a tight game, given that time in not replaced after the penalized play. Why don’t more teams intentionally run out a twelfth man on defense in short time/long yardage situations?

I Am Not The Droids You’re Looking For (is off to masterstroke myself)

We had the same conversation while watching. “Yeah let’s run 15 guys out next play!”

Total loop hole in the rules…

Steve (different one)

I was surprised they didn’t put time on the clock as well. Oh well, suck it Belicheck! How will Brady ever console himself tonight? Something tells me he’ll manage.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Why don’t more teams intentionally run out a twelfth man on defense in short time/long yardage situations?

Sportsmanship, I would assume.

Eirias

I was unaware that was a thing.

Eirias

It must be a new addition.

Frigidevil

Aside from not outright cheating, which most players seem to frown upon, the game can’t end on an accepted penalty. So yeah you kill the clock, but the game wouldn’t end, so in theory the Pats could get a 30 yard completion, and still get another shot with 0 on the clock.

Tom

The only thing that could stop it is if he opposing QB recognized it and started spiking the ball which would lead to 1-2 sec off the clock and getting 5 yards at a time. And obviously as someone mentioned the final play of the game has to be defended with 11.

The other question I have is when you have a lead (or are running the clock down for a game winning FG), if the clock is running, why don’t offensive teams intentionally false start as under 1 minute it is a 10 sec run off.

For example had the Giants run the clock down to ~30 sec at the end (if Bradshaw had actually gone down), do you intentionally false start with 1 sec on the play clock to get the 10 sec run off? and kick a 25 yd FG instead of a 20 yd one? (or in cases where you are punting and 10sec is worth the 5 yards).

Davor

But you only lose play-time with 12 men, when penalty is called, the clock is stopped, right? So, defense is giving 5 yards + free play (against more defenders).
Also, when you spike the ball, you lose 5 yards and 10 seconds, but the time stops. When you take a knee, you lose 1 yard (usually) and clock continues, so you can lose 45 seconds at the cost of the same down.

Tom

I’m talking about an instant spike – snap the ball and ground it (so that only 1-2 sec run off)

Also if you took a knee, the clock would stop on the defensive penalty flag AND the play wouldn’t count (so you wouldn’t even lose the yardage or down) because the offensive team would obviously take the flag and not the play. You would lose neither the time, the yardage, or the down as you indicate. Also since it was a defensive flag the clock would not stop again until the next snap of the ball.

However this relies on the QB (or a coach talking to him via the helmet mic) realizing this pre-snap.

Davor

We are talking about different situations.
1) When defense needs to run the clock down, 12 (or more) men give offense free play plus stoppage after the play. And last play must be without penalty. I can’t see scenario where it would be worth giving offense free play, play can’t last long enough. How many plays last more than 10 seconds, or even more than 5 (except those with big gains)?
2) When offense needs to run the clock down, every penalty stops the clock. Kneeing lets you waste another 45 seconds.

I Live In My Mom’s Basement

Because the QB would look like a total idiot if the penalty were not called?

Plank

My friends and I were amusing ourselves the entire game imitating Eli Manning with the personality of Buster from Arrested Development. He also has the same haircut as Ted Koppel. That is all.

Archie Manning told him the only way he is allowed to watch Survivor during the offseason is if he wins the superbowl. Everyone needs motivation.

Definitely a great weekend of sports. There may only be one team that I enjoy watching lose more than the pats. There is nothing in this world that I hate more than the red sox, but after that it is down to the pats and duke (who also lost tonight).

goterpsgo

+1

CJ

Eli Manning is now the best non-Yankee (non-baseball Sandy Jackie Willie) in New York sports history. Hands down.

gouchonyy

mark messier might beg to differ

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Agreed. Eli is up there, but Messier’s title meant much more than either of Eli’s given the circumstances.

CJ

only is you’re a die hard Rangers fan and I’m not sure there are Rangers fans that aren’t die-hards. Hockey doesn’t come close to the NFL in NY or America.

Plank

So you’ve already limited it to non-baseball teams and now it’s non-hockey teams, too?

Is basketball out too, since it’s not as popular as football, either?

Are you just asking for the best Giant or Jet? In that case, I’d still rather have LT.

CJ

No. Babe Ruth and other Yankee greats top the list if top all time greats in new York sports history. Eli Manning is next. Messier, Namath, Seaver make up next tier.

CJ

Not anymore. Eli just moved way up the list of NY sports greats.
Messier or Namath ?
Messier or Seaver?
All 3 are below Eli on the list.

Mykey

2>1.

Plank

Isn’t that a bit much?

Mattchu12

Beating Boston twice, each in the biggest game of the year (the first time being one of the most epic underdog wins ever) allows for that kind of irrational behavior.

Sandy really never came into his own until well after the Dodgers moved to LA. Of course there will always be Tom Seaver. I know your talking non-baseball so I´d have to add Frank Gifford to the list. He was truly big time sports celeb in the 1950-60´s probably bigger than Mantle.
Walt Frazier anyone ?

CJ

Willis reed then walt Frazier

Nathan

Thank God I won’t have to hear anymore “Brady is better than Montana”.

CJ

Brady probably is better than Montana. Jerry Rice. Those 49ers teams were loaded. Brady has the rings and Montana has not had the statistical seasons

Brian in NH

Like baseball, its hard to compare against different eras in football with something as simple as number of championships. The rules are now so far in favor of QBs and WRs that if Rice and Montana (and then Steve Young also) played under these rules they may have won6 or 7 championships between them.

unfortunately fWAR does not stand for football Wins Above Replacement, and I don’t know if anything in advanced football stats exists to make such historical comparisons more relevant.

I Live In My Mom’s Basement

Absolutely correct. Brady’s as immobile as a cigar-store Indian. His type of QB could only thrive in the don’t-molest-the-QB era we now live in. BTW I would throw Elway into the mix– 3400 career rushing yards (to Brady’s 700-something).

Bo Knows

Like him or not, Brady is probably one of the 3 best QB’s ever, that doesn’t change. Eli might be the 3rd best QB of his draft class (that was an insane class though)

Steve (different one)

When is it ok to start putting Eli ahead of Rivers? 3rd super bowl?

Bo Knows

For me personally I wouldn’t, Eli has the rings, but I believe Rivers is and has been the better QB. You might feel different and that’s fine.

Steve (different one)

I’m sure you’re right, and if someone started a similar argument about a baseball player, I would be all over it…

But for the next week or so, I’m all about the irrational exuberance. Just ignore me.

CJ

You and Philip Rivers are the only ones who believe that. But I’m sure Rivers thinks he’s better than Brady, Rogers, Brees and Peyton too.

Mykey

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Hahahahah!

Hahaha!

Ha!

Bronx Byte

Big Blue gets a parade down the Canyon of Heroes. The Yankees will be the next outdoor team to get a parade. The city sanitation workers are loving it with all the overtime for cleanup.

Bavarian Yankee

WE DID IT AGAIN!! btw: who’s Tom Brady?

Monterowasdinero

On the missed 2 point conversion after Bradshaw scored, the clock did not run!!!!!

Watch the replay: 57 seconds at the start of the play and 57 seconds at the end of the unsuccessful 2 point conversion.

Plank

So you are pointing out that the clock worked properly during that play?

Jimmy

I don’t think they run the clock during PAT’s or 2-point conversions. Just like the clock doesn’t start on a kick off until the ball is received.

Monterowasdinero

Well then I learned something about 2 point conversions.

My bad.

That rule makes as much sense as the 12 men on the field-not putting time back on the clock.

I Live In My Mom’s Basement

Not really. Considering the other team cannot score on the play, you could conceivably try all sorts of trick nonsense to run down the clock on a 2 point version attempt. Run in the wrong direction, etc.

mustang

All I know is that Eli ranked himself as an elite QB at the beginning of the year and most people including myself laughed.

NO ONE IS LAUGHTING NOW!!!!!

The best part is watching ESPN the same guys that wouldn’t even rank Eli in the top ten are now falling over each other with praise.

Lets also give BIG praise to Giants GM Jerry Reese who was criticized for losing Boss and Smith. He dealt with Osi and put a championship roster on the field.

mustang

I’m a Yankees,Giants, Rangers and Knicks fan.

THANK YOU GOD!!!

Monterowasdinero

Me too although I now root harder for the Mariners when they play the Sox.

mustang

“I now root harder for the Mariners when they play the Sox.”

Hummmmm I wonder why ? LOL

I Live In My Mom’s Basement

What sin could you possibly have committed for God to have sent you the Knicks?

I think Job was a Knicks fan.

Steve (different one)

Steve Smith,LOL. He and Tiki can both audition for a spot on the next Survivor.

Ok, loved Smith when he was here, but his defection was the best thing that could have happened for the Giants. Victor Cruz might be pushing shopping carts at the Secaucus Walmart if Smith doesn’t bolt.

Cruz and Steve Weatherford. Those are the two key guys. Weatherford was a huge weapon all postseason.

mustang

Agree on Weatherford.

How about the Jason Pierre-Paul pick? I still remember how many “experts” call it a bad pick because of Pierre-Paul lack of experience.

Also great adjustments by Perry Fewell because Brady was on fire and somehow he solved him.

Gonzo

Didn’t almost every “expert” have JPP projected in the first round?

Shoot, Todd McShay had him 3rd overall until he pushed him back to 17th.

Mykey

Regardless, it was a much maligned pick. Hindsight is 20/20, but at the time it was hard to reconcile another DE when the Giants already had Tuck, Osi, and Kiwi at the time.

Gonzo

Right, it wasn’t a knock on his talent. It was a knock on the G-Men drafting a position of stength. I think people get that confused.